Further Thoughts on Howard Hawks’ Scarface (and In Praise of Robin Wood)
As Wood noted frequently, genre is largely based on ideology; it's fostered through popular entertainment and in the film, directly stated by the chief.
Side Shots Film Blog
Side Shots Film Blog is a movie review blog from Identity Theory managed by Matthew Sorrento. Subscribe: RSS | Email
Black Death, Lost in its Own Darkness
As in life, some promises are hard to keep onscreen. This is true in the case of Walter Hill's cult pic The Warriors.
Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead…Until a Second Act Prize
The food science/health documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead makes the filmmaker-subject motif – in which the man behind the camera spends as much time in front of it – appear to be the norm.
Film Essay: The Natural Supernaturalism of the 13 Assassins
At a fundamental level, 13 Assassins dramatically illustrates the deadly nature of conflicting political loyalties.
Director Alexander Payne Retrospective in Philadelphia
Sadly, it's been a while for Alexander Payne.
The Casual Other: Behind Minor John Hughes
John Hughes' rise has been well documented.
A Dark Moment For Louis Malle: Black Moon on DVD
A Fellini moment was due for a journeyman director like Louis Malle.
Film Book Review: Shade Rupe’s Dark Stars Rising: Conversations from the Outer Realms
No one would argue with calling this massive, invaluable tome “exhaustive,” though there might be a few who would squawk with using the word “definitive.”
DVD Review: The Exterminator
One of the first exploitation films to be shown endlessly during the early days of cable, 1980’s The Exterminator is also one of the more grim entries in the genre. Gory, jaded and ambivalent on the merits of the vigilante, it anticipated Bernard Goetz by a few years.
Review: The Names of Love
Picture this: a secluded scientist waits in a checkout line for his new love interest to return with an item. An unusual pickup for him, she had invaded his radio interview about bird flu (he's an expert) and then asked him to bed when they had drinks.